R.I.P.D.: Derivative Slapstick Comedy Without Any Pretense

I remember seeing a preview for R.I.P.D. (Wikipedia/IMDB) while at the theaters on a visit to the States and immediately concluding it was M.I.B. (Wikipedia/IMDB) with dead people (“deados”) instead of aliens. Granted, everyone in the theater probably thought the same thing, to the point where me mentioning this at all makes me feel embarrassingly like Captain Obvious.

The only other major difference from Men In Black worth mentioning is that here, “the old guy” (Jeff Bridges) is the funny man while “the new guy” (Ryan Reynolds) is the straight man in the double act.

The movie is intentionally goofy and over the top, with plenty of slapstick Wile E. Coyote-esque humor that should entertain children. Ryan Reynolds is cuddly as usual, Jeff Bridges is pretty funny as the Wild West marshal, and Kevin Bacon is his creepy, sleazy self. Men in Black honestly wasn’t that great and neither is Rest In Peace Department. It’s derivative, aims to amuse a fairly low common denominator, and doesn’t pretend otherwise. As long as you don’t expect more, you’ll survive watching it and even have a few chuckles.